First SFEE – Ministry of Health meeting: Collaboration for sustainable growth and for the benefit of the patient
Announcement
Halandri, July 30, 2019.- The first meeting of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) with the new leadership of the Ministry of Health took place today at the Ministry of Health. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Health, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Vassilis Kontozamanis, officials of the Ministry, as well as the President of SFEE BoD, Mr. Olympios Papadimitriou, Vice-Presidents of the BoD Kostas Panagoulias, Marios Kosmidis, Stavros Theodorakis, members of the BoD Zacharias Ragoussis, Panagiotis Giannouleas, Harris Nardis, Roberto Greco, Costas Euripides, Marios Katsikas, SFEE General Manager Mr. Michael Himonas and Public Affairs Manager Ms. Jenny Papadonikolaki.
At the brief meeting, the representatives of the pharmaceutical industry raised the overriding issue of mandatory rebates and clawbacks, which -based on first semester data- are expected to exceed 40% of pharmaceutical spending for 2019, making it difficult for patients to access existing and, of course, new drugs, while destroying the viability of companies and the health system itself. It was emphasized that pharmaceutical spending is obviously insufficient and does not meet the real needs of the Greek population, while the excess expenditure is out of control.
In the context of a creative exchange of views, the need for an immediate follow-up meeting was agreed, during which more issues will be discuss in detail, including the measures and initiatives to be taken to ensure patients’ immediate access to new medicines, to safeguard the expenditure and the sustainability of the Health System and at the same time to promote the development plans of pharmaceutical companies.
Concluding the meeting, SFEE representatives submitted a short list of immediate and pending issues and stressed that the pharma industry with a sense of responsibility, a vision and in a spirit of mutual cooperation will support any initiative that the Ministry of Health will take upon, in order to promote growth, development and above all the benefit of Greek patients.
